Apparatus having curved display

ABSTRACT

An electronic paper display unit includes a protective case, which is made of a transparent material, a display, which is installed in the protective case, is powered to display desired image information, and includes a plurality of divided regions, and a control module, which is electrically connected with the display, and includes a first mode transmitting a divided mode signal such that many pieces of image information are independently displayed on the respective divided regions and a second mode transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of image information is displayed throughout the overall divided regions. Further, a mobile communication terminal can visually display various pieces of image information thereon according to selection of a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/436,685, filed Jun. 10, 2019, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 15/670,818, filed Aug. 7, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,359,985, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/665,981, filed Mar. 23, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,727,299, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/284,047, filed Sep. 18, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,996,068, which claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2007-0096507, filed Sep. 21, 2007, the contents of which are all incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present invention relates to an electronic paper display unit and a mobile communication terminal having the same and, more particularly, to an electronic paper display unit, which visually displays various pieces of image information on the outer faces of a mobile communication terminal, and a mobile communication terminal having the same.

2. Description of Related Art

In general, with the increasing mobile communication users and the technological development of the mobile communication terminals, the mobile communication terminals have been added with a variety of multimedia functions, for instance, camera, moving picture display, game, etc., in addition to the simple communication function.

Further, as the multimedia functions are added, the display device of the mobile communication terminal has been developed from a light emitting diode (LED) to a liquid crystal display (LCD), and then equipped with a color LCD from a monochrome LCD.

In addition, as the size of an LCD screen becomes larger, the secondary LCD screen can be operated without using the primary LCD screen to save the battery power and protect the LCD screen life in the normal situations.

This LCD screen is designed to display desired image information on the remaining outside portion other than a molding that forms a body of the mobile communication terminal.

In other words, the LCD screen is designed to help the users easily recognize and select the information while communicating with each other or while receiving or sending information from or to a given network host.

Thus, the body of the mobile communication terminal is normally assembled with the already colored or coated parts except the LCD screen. Therefore, it is difficult to express every user's personal interests and characteristics on the assembled body parts.

For this problem, the users normally attach a separate cover or a pouch to the body of the mobile communication terminal.

Thus, the users can partly express their disposition and personality using the differently designed materials with various colors. However, since the cover is separately attached on the terminal body, foreign matters such as dusts are easily deposited between the cover and the body.

As such, today there is a demand for the development of variously displaying the image information, for instance, moving pictures, photographs, etc., somewhere on their mobile communication terminals. Thus, every user can express personal interests and personalities on the other areas rather than the LCD screen.

SUMMARY

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object to provide an electronic paper display unit, which is installed in a protective case made from a transparent material, and independently displays many pieces of desired image information such as moving pictures, photographs or the like in the divided regions, or displays one piece of desired image information throughout the overall divided regions, and a mobile communication terminal having the same.

The present invention also provides an electronic paper display unit, which displays various pieces of image information on the outer faces of the main body as well as the sub-body of a mobile communication terminal, and thus the present invention increases the beauty of the outer faces, and a mobile communication terminal having the same.

The present invention also provides an electronic paper display unit, which easily corrects a contrast at the edge or circumference of the rounded body of a mobile communication terminal, and thus increases the beauty of the outer faces, and a mobile communication terminal having the same.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic paper display unit, which includes: a protective case, which is made from a transparent material; a display, which is installed inside the protective case and powered to display desired image information on a plurality of divided regions; a control module, which is electrically connected with the display and includes a first mode transmitting a divided mode signal so that two or more pieces of image information are independently displayed on the divided regions, and a second mode transmitting an integrated mode signal so that one piece of image information is displayed throughout the divided regions.

Here, the protective case may further include the base member on one side thereof.

Further, the protective case may be made from a transparent plastic material or a transparent elastic material.

Meanwhile, one or more of the divided regions may be formed as the curved regions.

Among the divided regions, the outermost ones may further include the sub-regions that are curved on the outer circumferences of the divided regions, and each curved sub-region may be powered to display the image information which is gradually increased from a first end to a second end of the curved sub-region.

Further, each sub-region may include a plurality of the divided sub-regions.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal having an electronic paper display unit, which includes: a main body, on which both a first circuit board and a liquid crystal display electrically connected with the first circuit board are installed; a sub-body, which is coupled with the main body, on which a second circuit board electrically connected with the first circuit board is installed, and on which a battery supplying power to the first and second circuit boards is mounted; a protective case, which is installed on the outside of the main body and the sub-body and has a predetermined thickness, and which is made of a transparent material; a display, which is installed inside the protective case and is powered from the outside to display a desired image information, and which includes a plurality of divided regions; and a control module, which is installed in the sub-body to connect electrically with the display, and which includes both a first mode, transmitting a divided mode signal such that a plurality of pieces of image information are independently displayed on the divided regions, and a second mode, transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of image information is displayed throughout the divided regions.

Here, the protective case may be coupled to the outside of either the main body or the sub-body using a coupling means. The coupling means may include sliding ridges, which are formed on opposite sides of the main body and the sub-body, and sliding holes, which are formed on opposite sides of the protective case and are coupled with the sliding ridges.

Further, the protective case may be made of a transparent plastic material or a transparent elastic material.

Also, one or more of the divided regions may be formed as the curved regions.

Among the divided regions, the outermost ones may further include sub-regions that are curved on the outer circumferences of the divided regions, and each curved sub-region may be powered to display the image information, a contrast of which is gradually increased from a first end to a second end of the curved sub-region.

Further, each sub-region may include a plurality of divided sub-regions.

According to the present invention, the electronic paper display unit can be installed in the protective case made from a transparent material, and independently displays many pieces of desired image information such as moving pictures, photographs or the like on the divided regions, or displays one piece of desired image information throughout the divided regions.

The electronic paper display unit can display various pieces of image information on the outer faces of the main body as well as the sub-body of the mobile communication terminal, and thus the present invention increases the beauty of the outer faces.

The electronic paper display unit can easily correct the contrast at the edge or circumference of the rounded body of the mobile communication terminal, and thus increase the beauty of the outer faces.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication terminal having an electronic paper display unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a mobile communication terminal having an electronic paper display unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the mobile communication terminal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along the line I-I′ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line II-II′ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a display according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of an electronic paper display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 8, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged mobile communication terminal.

An electronic paper display unit and a mobile communication terminal having the same, according to the present invention, will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Here, the configuration of the electronic paper display unit is substantially included in the configuration of the mobile communication terminal.

Thus, the configuration of the electronic paper display unit will be described together with the configuration of the mobile communication terminal.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the mobile communication terminal having an electronic paper display unit includes: a main body 100, on which both the first circuit board 110 and a liquid crystal display (LCD) 120 electrically connected with a first circuit board 110 are installed; a sub-body 200, which is coupled with the main body 100, on which a second circuit board 210 electrically connected with the first circuit board 110 is installed, and on which a battery 250 supplying the power to the first circuit board 110 and the second circuit board 210 is mounted.

The mobile communication terminal may be a folding type in which one end of the main body 100 can be hinged on the other end of the sub-body 200 as illustrated in FIG. 1, or a sliding type in which the main body 109 can be slid on the sub-body 209 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Thus, the electronic paper display unit of the present invention can be applied to both the mobile communication terminal of FIG. 1 and the mobile communication terminal of FIG. 2.

Now, the configuration and operation of the electronic paper display unit of the present invention will be described as follows.

The electronic paper display unit of the present invention includes a protective case 400 or 409 coupled to a base member, a display 300 or 309 installed in the protective case 400, and a control module 500 controlling the display 300 to display desired image information.

The base member can be either the main body 100 or 109 or the sub-body 200 or 209 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or 2.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 5, the protective case 400, made of a transparent material, is installed on the outside of the main body 100 and the sub-body 200 with a predetermined thickness.

The protective case 400 may be made of a transparent material (e.g. plastic) or an elastic material (e.g. rubber).

The protective case 400 is coupled with the main body 100 and the sub-body 200 using a coupling means.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the coupling means includes sliding ridges 401, which projects outwards from the inner face of the protective case 400, and sliding holes 101, which are formed in the outer face of the main body 100 and will be coupled with the sliding ridges 401.

Further, although not illustrated in the drawings, the sliding ridges 401 may be formed on the outer face of the main body 100, and the sliding holes 101 may be formed in the inner face of the protective case 400.

Of course, the protective case 400 can be coupled with the main body 100 or the sub-body 200 by means of an adhesive material (not shown) such as glue or tape.

Here, the protective case 400 is provided with a recess 410 for installing the display 300 in the inner face thereof.

Now, the display 300 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

The display 300, installed in the inner face of the protective case 400, is powered to display desired image information, and includes a main region 310, which includes a plurality of divided main regions 311.

Thus, each of the divided main regions 311 functions as an independent display to show the image information.

The main region 310 further includes sub-regions 320, which are disposed in a curved shape on the outer circumference of the main region 310.

Each sub-region 320 is coupled with the outer circumference of the main region 310. Each sub-region 320 is electrically connected and can be operated with the separate power.

Each sub-region 320 is powered to display the image information, a contrast of which is gradually increased from one end to the other end of each sub-region 320 along the outer circumferences.

The power may be supplied by the control module 500, which will be described below. The contrast can also be controlled by the control module 500.

In addition, each sub-region 320 includes a plurality of divided sub-regions 321.

Next, the control module 500 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

The control module 500 is installed in the sub-body 200 to be connected electrically with the display 300, and includes a first mode 510, transmitting a divided mode signal such that many pieces of the first image information are independently displayed on the divided main regions 311, and a second mode 520, transmitting an integrated mode signal such that one piece of the second image information is displayed throughout the overall divided main regions 311.

In detail, the display 300 of the present invention includes both the main region 310 having the divided main regions 311, and the sub-regions 320 surrounding the main region 310.

The main region 310 is arranged in a grid shape, and includes n numbers of the divided main regions 311.

The n numbers of the divided main regions 311 are electrically connected with the control module 500.

Although not illustrated, each sub-region has the shape of a bar having a predetermined length, and includes m numbers of the divided sub-regions 321.

The m numbers of the divided sub-regions 321 are electrically connected with the control module 500.

Meanwhile, the first mode 510 outputs the divided mode signal such that many pieces of the first image information are independently displayed on each of the divided main regions 311 of the main region 310 and each of the divided sub-regions 321 of each sub-region 320.

The second mode 520 outputs the integrated mode signal such that one piece of the second image information is displayed throughout the overall divided main regions 311 of the main region 310 and the overall divided sub-regions 321 of each sub-region 320.

In addition, the control module 500 further includes an input 550, which can input the source information constituted of the first and second image information.

The input 550 can be adapted to select one or more of the many pieces of the source information such as moving pictures, photographs, or the color information, so that it can use the selected information as the first image information or the second image information.

When the source information for the first image information or the second image information is input through the input 550, the control module 500 secures a predetermined memory, and then stores the source information in the memory.

For example, when the source information for the first image information is input through the input 550, a controller 540 of the control module 500 stores the source information, and then transmits an electrical signal to the first mode 510.

Thus, the first mode 510 outputs the divided mode signal, so that the first image information can be displayed on each of the divided main regions 311.

Here, all pieces of the first image information, which are displayed on each of the divided main regions 311, may be equal to or different from each other.

If different, the different pieces of the first image information are input into the controller 540 through the input 550. The controller 540 stores the different pieces of the first image information, which will be transmitted to each of the divided main regions 311.

Meanwhile, the control module 500 further includes a selector 530, which can select at least one of the divided main regions 311 to control on/off operation of the selected region.

Thus, the first image information is allowed to be displayed only on the divided main region 311 indicated by the selector 530.

In contrast, when the source information for the second image information is input through the input 550, the controller 540 stores the source information, and then transmits an electrical signal to the second mode 520.

Thus, the second mode 520 outputs the integrated mode signal, so that the second image information can be displayed on the divided main regions 311.

Here, the divided main regions 311 function to display one piece of the second image information.

Although the present invention describes the sample case where the first or second image information is displayed on the divided main regions through the first or second mode 510 or 520 of the control module 500, this case is equally applied to the sub-regions 320.

Meanwhile, the sub-regions 320 are typically installed on the edges of the main body 100 or the sub-body 200 of the mobile communication terminal as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Each sub-region 320 is curved from one end to the other end thereof.

Thus, the contrast for the first or second image information displayed from one end to the other end of the sub-regions 320 thereof can be visually varied.

When the sub-regions 320 are visually tested at a predetermined position, the controller 540 can gradually increase the contrast from one end to the other end of each sub-region 320. Thus the displayed contrast can be adjusted equally.

In addition, one or more of the divided main regions 311 of the main region 310 may have the curved regions.

When the display 300 having the main region 310 is installed on the main body 100 or the sub-body 200 of the mobile communication terminal, it can be installed in accordance with the shapes of the edge of the main body 100 or the sub-body 200.

Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable communication device comprising: a display including a planar display area and a curved display area extended from the planar display area, the planar display area corresponding to at least part of a front surface of the portable communication device and the curved display area corresponding to at least part of a side surface of the portable communication device; and a controller operatively coupled with the display and adapted to: operate the planar display area using a first configuration; and while the planar display area is operated using the first configuration, operate the curved display area using a second configuration different from the first configuration.
 2. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to: as at least part of the operating the planar display area using the first configuration, display a first portion of content via the planar display area using a first display characteristic; and as at least part of the operating the curved display area using the second configuration, display a second portion of the content via the curved display area using a second display characteristic different from the first display characteristic.
 3. The portable communication device of claim 2, wherein the controller is adapted to: set a first contrast as at least part of the first display characteristic; and set a second contrast as at least part of the second display characteristic.
 4. The portable communication device of claim 2, wherein the curved display area including a first end extended from the planar display area and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the controller is adapted to: set a gradually increased contrast from the first end to the second end as at least part of the second configuration.
 5. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to: as at least part of the operating the planar display area using the first configuration, deactivate the planar display area; and as at least part of the operating the curved display area using the second configuration, activate the curved display area while the planar display area is deactivated.
 6. The portable communication device of claim 5, wherein the controller is adapted to: deactivate the planar display area and activate the curved display area such that content is to be displayed via the curved display area and not via the planar display area.
 7. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to: as at least part of the operating the planar display area using the first configuration, activate the planar display area; and as at least part of the operating the curved display area using the second configuration, deactivate the curved display area while the planar display area is activated.
 8. The portable communication device of claim 7, wherein the controller is adapted to: activate the planar display area and deactivate the curved display area such that content is to be displayed via the planar display area and not via the curved display area.
 9. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to: control the display such that a power is to be provided to the planar display area and the curved display area independently of each other.
 10. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the display includes another curved display area located on an opposite side of the curved display area.
 11. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the display includes a light emitting diode.
 12. A portable communication device comprising: a display cover including a planar area, a first curved area extended from a first edge of the planar area, a second curved area extended from a second edge of the planar area and opposite to the first curved area, a third curved area extended from a third edge of the planar area, and a fourth curved area extended from a fourth edge of the planar area and opposite to the third curved area, each of the first and second curved areas having a first length and each of the third and fourth curved areas having a second length shorter than the first length, the planar area corresponding to at least part of a front surface of the portable communication device and each of the first, second, third and fourth curved areas corresponding to at least part of a side surface of the portable communication device; a display including a planar display area corresponding to the planar area, a first curved display area corresponding to the first curved area, a second curved display area corresponding to the second curved area; and a controller operatively coupled with the display and adapted to control the display.
 13. The portable communication device of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to: operate at least one of the first curved display area or the second curved display area independently of the planar display area.
 14. The portable communication device of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to: display content continuously via the planar display area and at least one of the first curved display area or the second curved display area.
 15. The portable communication device of claim 12, wherein the display further includes: a third curved display area corresponding to the third curved area; and a fourth curved display area corresponding to the fourth curved area.
 16. The portable communication device of claim 15, wherein the controller is adapted to: display content via at least two curved display areas of the first, second, third and fourth curved display areas independently of the planar display area.
 17. The portable communication device of claim 16, wherein the controller is adapted to: perform the displaying of the content such that the content is to be displayed continuously via the at least two curved display areas.
 18. The portable communication device of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to: operate the planar display area using a first configuration; and while the planar display area is operated using the first configuration, operate at least one of the first curved display area or the second curved display area using a second configuration different from the first configuration.
 19. The portable communication device of claim 18, wherein the controller is adapted to: as at least part of the operating the planar display area using the first configuration, display a first portion of content via the planar display area using a first display characteristic; and as at least part of the operating the at least one of the first curved display area or the second curved display area using the second configuration, display a second portion of the content via the at least one of the first curved display area or the second curved display area using a second display characteristic different from the first display characteristic.
 20. The portable communication device of claim 19, wherein the controller is adapted to: set a first contrast as at least part of the first display characteristic; and set a second contrast as at least part of the second display characteristic. 